Metal spray apparatus



March 21, 1939- w. H. STEVENS v2,150,949

METAL SPRAY APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 111 lf2? 1 34 -D\ r- C I7 /3 9w lo I ,l v

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' METAL `SPRAY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jul-y e, 1957 Patented Mar. 2l, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,150,949 METAL SPRAY APPARATUS William H. Stevens, San Francisco, Calif. Appuemun July e, 1937*, serial No. 152,094

6 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a metal spray apparatus, and especially to a single control lever or hand grip whereby the several valves regulating the flow of air and gas to the turbine and burner nozzle may be opened and closed in proper sequence, and whereby the wire feeding rolls may be simultaneously actuated either to release or to grip the metal wire as the gas valves are closed.

In the operation of metal spray guns, the acetylene and oxygen gases delivered to the burner nozzle are usually regulated by individual valves, and so is the air which is employed for atomizing and projecting the molten metal and for operatingrthe turbine whereby the wire feeding wheels are driven; and in addition thereto the wire feeding' wheels must be adjusted to release or grip the wire being fed thereby. All these valves and adjustments require continuous attention and care, if uniform results are to be insured. Once they are adjusted, the operator does not like to close them off when he momentarily stops for one reason or another, as too much time is consumed in opening and readjusting the valves, hence, excessive amounts of gas and air are consumed, and besides that, the gun is subjected to unnecessary use and wear without producing any results.

'I'he object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of the character described; to provide a control which permits almost instantaneous opening and closing of all the valves in proper sequence, and simultaneous actuating of the wire feeding wheels;` further, to provide a control ywhich permits individualnadjustment of the several valves; to insure'the proper proportions of gases, atomizing air, etc., for metal wire of varying diameter and melting point; and which also permits adjustment of the wire feeding wheels for metal wire of varying diameter or gauge.

The apparatus is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of the metal spray apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a mixing tube whereby the oxygen and acetylene gas are thoroughly mixed before being admitted to the burner nozzle;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1; y

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a bottom View of Fig. 2;

(Cl. ill-12.2)

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the spray apparatus, said view being partially broken away and being partially in section;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line l VII-' VII of Fig. 1; 6

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the spray apparatus, said view being partially in section to show the turbine wheel and the chamber in which itis mounted; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the rocker l0 arms supporting one of the shafts whereby one of the wire feeding wheels is supported and driven'. l

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. l, A indicates a base plate on the u under side of which is formed a handle 2 in the form of a pistol grip, and on the upper surface of which is formed a standard 3. Secured to the base 'plate by screws 5 or similar means (see Figs.` 1 and 8) is a housing B, and forming a part 20 thereof is a head member C to which is secured a nozzle generally indicated at D. Formed within the housing B is a main chamber E which encloses a multi-speed gear transmission F and a worm gear reduction drive G, said reduction gears being driven by a turbine wheel H mounted in a chamber formed in the rear end of the housing, said chamber having a discharge passage 6 to permit free escape of the air by which the turbine wheel is driven, as will hereinafter be described. f

The multi-speed gear transmission F terminates in a pair of drive shafts 1-1 (see Fig. 7) which transmit power through chain drives such as shown at 8 8 to a pair of shafts 9 9, which 35 will hereinafter be referred to as the wire feeding wheel driving shafts, as each of them supports and drives a wire feeding wheel such as shown at I0. These wheels are movable to and away from each other, to engage or release a wire such as shown at Il, rst of all to either grip or release the wire, and secondly to permit wire of diiferent diameter or gauge to be used. It is accordingly essential that the shafts 9-9 be mounted in bearings which are adjust- 45 able to and away from each other, as the shafts must obviously move in unison with the wire feeding wheels supported and driven thereby. lThe mounting for each of the shafts 9 is identical with that for the other, and a description of one should accordingly sumce.

Referring to Fig. 9, one of the shafts 9 is shown. This shaft is journaled in bearing lugs |2-I2 forming an integral part of, or secured to, la vertically disposed shaft I3. The upper A sprocket gear is secured to the shaft 9 between the bearings I2I2, and this is driven from shaft 1 by means of the`chain drive l. The upper end of the shaft I3 is provided with a rocker arm I4 and thevouter end thereof terminates in a cone-shaped beveled face' I5, the function of which will hereinafter be described. The standard'3 formedvin the base member 8 has two.

Y recesses formed in its upper end -to receive the shaft members I3, and when the shafts together with the bearing lugs. rocker arms, etc., are placed therein, they will assume the position shown in Fig. '1. Y I j Extending vertically through the standard 8 is a rod I5, the upper end of which is provided with a cone-shaped cam I1; the lower end of the rod projects through a control lever I8 pivoted to the handle 2 as at I9. 'Ihe lower end of the rod is threaded, and an adjustable connection is formed between the lever I8 and the rod, by.` adjusting nuts 2l. If a wire-II of a certain di ameter is to be gripped and fed forwardly through the nomle D by means of the wire feeding wheels I9,`it is only n \for the operator to grasp the control lever I8 and pull it towards the handle 2, and in so doing, a downward pull is exerted on the rod I6. Thecone-shaped cam I1` formed in the upper' end thereof will engage the complementary fac I5 formed in the outer ends of the rocker arms I4. They will accordingly be spread apart, causing theshafts I3 to turn about their longitudinal axes and to swing the bearingy lugs I2 together with the shafts 9 and the wire feeding wheels Il towards -each other, thus gripping the wireY and feeding it for-- wardly through the nozzle. if the turbine is in operation, as power will be transmitted from the turbine through the reduction gear drive and the traon Il' to the shafts 1-1, and from thesetotheshaftsI--lbymeansofthechain drives 8-8, the chain drives being similarly flexible to permit arcuate movement of the shaf 9-9 about their pivotal points or shaft I3I3, as previously described.

In actual practice, a series of nexible hose are connected with the housing B at the points indicated at 25, 2l and 21. The hose 21 delivers air under comparatively high pressure, the hose 29, acetylene, and the hose 25, oxygen gas. I'he hose 21 is connected with two es, one indicated at 28 and one at 29. The e 28 is a by-pass e and connects with a nozzle or orifice 39 which delivers air under pressure to the vanes of the turbine to drive the same. A manually adjustable needle valve 3| or similar means is used in connection with the orifice or nozzle to regulate the flow of air. The main passage 29 extends upwardly through the housing B into the head member C, and in this head is formed a connected extension passage 32 which in turn connects with an annular chamber 33 formed in the nozzle D.. This chamber delivers the air to the numerous discharge orifices shown at 34, said orifices serving the function of directing the air against the melting portion of the wire to atomize and project the same, and to conne the spread of the molten metal. A valve 35 controls the iiow of air through the passage 29, or in other words, the flow of air to the atomizing nozzle D. This valve is normally held against its seat` in closed position by means of the lspring 39. It is provided `with a stem 81 which projection ,thereof by the from the annular chamber 38.

jects through a. stuffing box 38 and the lower end of the valve is provided with adjusting nuts 39 which areengaged by a fork 40 of the control lever I8. I

The acetylene gas is admitted through the connection 28 and its flow is controlled by a valve 4I identical in construction to the valve 35. The valve stem connected with the valve 4I is also provided with adjusting nuts as shown at 42, and it extends through the fork 43 forming a part of the control lever I8; The oxygen enters through the connection 25. Its flow is also controlled by a valve such as-shown at 44. This valve is similar in construction to the valves 35 and 4I, and its stem is provided with adjusting nuts 45 which are engaged by a fork 46 of the control lever "I 8. The oxygen and acetylene gases are combined and thoroughly mixed before being delivered to the burner nozzle, and this is accomplished in the present instance by a mixing tube generally indicated at 41 (see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) the lower end of the tube -forms a valve seat for the valve 44; the center portion is reduced in diameter to form an annular recess or chamber 48 into which the acetylene gas is introduced through a by-pass passage 49; and the upper end of the tube is provided with a head 50 in the outer surface of which are formed angularly formed slots 5I.v` The oxygen admitted by the valve 44 passes upwardly through a central passage' 52'formed in the tube. Atthe upper end of this passage lare lateral passages 53 which communicate with the slots 5I, and as the other gas isalso flowing through theseslots, the two gases meet and mix, and they are further mixed A oriiiced plug 6l to a point forwardly of the nozzle D, where combustion takes place. The wire II is fed through this zone of combustion, and the temperature maintained is sufllcient to fuse and melt the metal and permit atomization and procompressed air delivered The spray apparatus here shown is exceedyIngly simple to handle. The valves controlling the ilow of air to the atomizing nozzle, and the flow 'of oxygen and acetylene gas, vare all independently adjustable, by means of the nuts indicated at 39, 42 and 45, and they will be adjusted until the proper proportion of gas and air is obtained, and when so adjusted the nuts 39, 42 and 45 are locked and permanently set. Thereafter when the operator desires to use the gun he merely applies pressure tothe lower end of the control lever I8, and as he does so he will open the valves 35, 4I and 44 in consecutive order, as the forks 'on the upper ends thereof will successively engage the adjusting nuts 39, 42 and 4.5. Similarly,A when 'he desires to close these` zle, these wheels similarly releasing their grip on the wire when the control lever is released and the valves closed. The speed of the turbine may be regulated at any time by the manually controlled needle valve 3l. No other controls are required. Varying speeds may be transmitted to the wire feeding rolls depending upon the diameter of the wire being fed, or the melting point of the same, these speeds being controlled by the multi-speed transmission F. This transmission, together with the gear reduction drive and other parts of the mechanism, forms the subject matter of two co-pending applications, both'entitled Metal spray apparatus, led of even date. For this reason, a detailed description thereof is thought unnecessary.

While the adjusting mechanism between the individual valves and the lever I8, and between the rod i6 and the lever I8 is more or less specically described and illustrated, I wish it understood that this adjustment, together with other features of the invention, may be changed within the scope of the appended claims, and that the materials and nish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide or varying conditions or uses demand.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following:

l. In an apparatus of the character described,

a burner nozzle, wire feeding wheels to feed a metal wire through the nozzle, means for delivering a combustible gas and atomizing air to the nozzle, valves for regulating the flow of air and gas to the nozzle, and a common control for opening or closing the valves and for simultaneously moving the wire feeding Wheels to or away from the Wire to grip and feed the wire or release the same. A

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a burner nozzle, wire feeding Wheels to feed a metal wire through the nozzle, means for delivering a combustible gas and atomizing air to the nozzle, valves for regulating the flow of air and gas to the nozzle, a common control for opening or closing the valves and for simultaneously moving the wire feeding Wheels to or away from the Wire to grip and feed the wire or release the same, and means for adjusting the gripping position of the wire feeding wheels with relation to the common control.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a burner nozzle, Wire feeding wheels to feed a metal Wire through the nozzle, means for delivmetal wire through the nozzle, Vmeans for delivering a combustible gas and `atomizing air to the nozzle, a plurality of valves for regulating the .flow of air and gas to the nozzle, a common control for opening or closing the valves and for simultaneously moving the wire feeding wheels to or laway from the wire to grip and feed the wire or release the same, means for adjusting the gripping position of the wire feeding wheels, and means for adjusting the valves with relation to the common control to regulate the flow of gas and air.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a burner nozzle, an air atomizing nozzle surrounding the same, wire feeding wheels to feed a metal wire through the nozzle, means-for delivering a mixture of oxygen and a combustible gas to the burner nozzle, a separate valve for each of said gases to regulate the flow of the same, a valve to regulate the flow of atomizing air to the air nozzle, and a common control for opening or closing the valves and for simultaneously moving the wire feeding wheels to or away from the wire to grip and feed the wire or release the same. l

6. In an apparatus of the character described, aburner nozzle, an air atomizing nozzle surrounding the same, wire feeding Wheels to feed a metal wire through the nozzle, means for delivering a mixture of oxygen and a combustible gas to the burner nozzle, a Valve for each of said gases to regulate the flow of the same, a valve to regulate the flow of `atomizing air to the air nozzle, a common control for opening or closing the valves and for simultaneously moving the wire feeding wheels to or away from the wire to grip and feed the Wire or release the same, means for adjusting the gripping position of the wire feeding wheels kwith relation to the common control, and means for adjusting the valves with relation to the common control to regulate the ow of gas and air WILLIAM H. STEVENS. 

